THESE are the changes that will be made to recycling and waste collections for the Christmas and New Year period.

Recycling and waste crews will work over the festive period, but public holidays mean there will be some changes to the normal collection calendar in St Helens.

Crews will not be operating on the public holidays of Monday, December 27, Tuesday 28 and Monday, January 3 but will be working on the following three Saturdays.

The easiest way to check collection dates over the festive period is to enter your postcode online at sthelens.gov.uk/collections.

The bulky rubbish service is also operating extra hours in the run up to the festive period, when many households choose to get rid of unwanted items. Many charities also accept large items including furniture, with some even offering collection services, so consider donating unwanted items in good condition.

Normally operating over three weekdays, the bulky rubbish service will increase to five days Monday-Friday. Find out which items can be taken and book a collection at sthelens.gov.uk/bulkyrubbish.

Recycling and waste collections will run as normal up to and including Friday 24 December when the seasonal collection calendar will come into effect as follows:

(left) Normal collection day – (right) will be collected on

Monday 27 December – Wednesday 29 December

Tuesday 28 December – Thursday 30 December

Wednesday 29 December – Friday 31 December

Thursday 30 December – Tuesday 4 January

Friday 31 December – Wednesday 5 January

Monday 3 January – Thursday 6 January

Tuesday 4 January – Friday 7 January

Wednesday 5 January – Saturday 8 January

Thursday 6 January – Monday 10 January

Friday 7 January – Tuesday 11 January

Monday 10 January – Wednesday 12 January

Tuesday 11 January – Thursday 13 January

Wednesday 12 January – Friday 14 January

Thursday 13 January – Saturday 15 January

Friday 14 January – Monday 17 January

Monday 17 January – Tuesday 18 January

Tuesday 18 January – Wednesday 19 January

Wednesday 19 January – Thursday 20 January

Thursday 20 January – Friday 21 January

Friday 21 January – Saturday 22 January

Collections will then resume as normal from Monday, January 24.

People are asked to have recycling and waste out for collection from 6.30am. Excess cardboard often generated over the festive period can be stacked neatly for collection. If additional recycling is to be presented, residents are asked to keep materials separated (cardboard, glass, paper, plastics, cans), and not to put it out in tied black bin bags.

Remember to wash, squash and leave the lids off plastic bottles and containers to save space in your pink collection bag and on the collection vehicles.

Residents are advised that due to the increase in recycling tonnage over Christmas and New Year some recycling collections may be done via a normal rear-loading bin wagon, with comingled recyclables always sent on for sorting. In this event food waste will be collected separately.